Supremes (finally) Give Green-light To Crist's Grand Jury

December 2, 2009|Posted by Josh Hafenbrack on December 2, 2009 11:54 AM

Gov. Charlie Crist will get his anti-corruption grand jury, after all.

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the governor?s request to empanel a 12-month grand jury to look into corruption issues ? two days after the high court had rejected the plan. After the initial setback, Crist quickly re-filed, expanding on why he thought a grand jury was necessary in response to a wave of corruption cases focused in South Florida.

This time, the court unanimously said OK.

Broward Chief Judge Victor Tobin, of the 17th Circuit, will preside over the grand jury. It?s only fitting, since Broward has emerged as a hotbed of political corruption. Arrested in recent months: former County Commissioner, Josephus Eggelletion, School Board member Beverly Gallagher, Broward eye doctor and political fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn and, most recently, lawyer and alleged Ponzi scheme swindler Scott Rothstein.